The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has urged Indian industry to move beyond awareness programmes and turn free trade agreements (FTAs) and export schemes into actual exports.

DGFT Director General Lav Agarwal said industry associations should work closely with the government to help businesses use new market access opportunities. He also called for mentoring potential exporters at the district and cluster levels.

India has recently implemented FTAs with the UK and Oman and is preparing to implement its agreement with New Zealand. Agarwal said Indian businesses need to better understand the market access created by these agreements and use it to expand exports.

He also urged manufacturers to include trade opportunities in their expansion plans and become part of global value chains.

Focus on District Export Hubs

Agarwal called for stronger coordination between the Export Promotion Mission and the Districts as Export Hubs initiative. The aim is to create a wider export ecosystem across Indian states and districts.

The Export Promotion Mission covers areas such as export finance, market intelligence, logistics, inland export support and compliance with international trade agreements.

According to Agarwal, exports remain concentrated in a limited number of regions. Ten states account for about 85% of India's exports, while 15 states contribute around 95%.

At the district level, 10 districts contribute about 35% of total exports. Jamnagar accounts for around 8.29%, while Pune and Kanchipuram contribute about 6.57% and 5.98%, respectively.

The DGFT has urged industry associations to mentor MSMEs, startups and potential exporters. The focus is on turning more than 500 district export action plans into actual shipments.

Agarwal said awareness workshops alone are not enough. Industry and government need an end-to-end framework covering mentoring, market access and hand-holding to help more businesses enter global markets.